Could Gold Have a Value Other Than Material?

For ancient Colombian natives, gold never had a material value. Nor was it used to “satisfy vanity” as modern society does. It was thought of as the bearer of a vital, sun creating energy.

Thus, gold always found in what became the Colombian nation over time, explains its roots, making a spiritual sense of a nation’s identity. A people forged in the highest values of the man-nature bonding.

Since it was created back in 1939, the aim of the Colombian Gold Museum was to save pre-Columbian gold objects from casting or exports and thus preserve the art and spirituality of the Colombian people’s ancestors.

By buying the Quimbaya gold that year, the Gold Museum’s mission began, namely to purchase and preserve archeological objects made of metal and other materials as the cultural heritage of Colombians; to research and classify this collection in order to better understand ancient civilizations and make sense of their existence; and finally to let others know about the findings to promote the knowledge on Colombian roots while providing a constructive example linking the cultural wealth of their past to present and future possibilities of society as a whole.

In 1944, archeologist Gregorio Hernandez de Alba named the growing collection the “Gold Museum”, shown at an elegant room open for special visitors only.

In 1954, the Museum showed its 18 best objects at the New York Metropolitan Art Museum: a first of many successful international exhibits.

In 1959, looking for an opportunity to present the Colombia image to the world, the Gold Museum finally opened its doors to the general public.

In 1969, the Museum took possession of its own place and the exhibit is seen as a didactic explanation of pre-Hispanic societies and life styles.

The Museum is a living thing. It continues to grow with eight permanent show rooms in different regions where goldsmith art developed, namely Santa Marta (Tairona gold), Cartagena (Zenu gold), Armenia (Quimbaya gold), Manizales (Quimbaya gold), Cali (Calima gold), Pasto (Narino gold), Ipiales (Narino gold), and Leticia (Ethnographic Museum).

By 2003, a new building, next to the current museum, will be opened. By 2005, the renovation of the old building will be completed. Thus, both sections together will become a large cultural center reflecting the energy and thrive of the Colombian people.

Today, because of this wonderful collection, local or foreign visitors are able to have a glimpse at the endogenous cosmogony and be lead to a metamorphosis universe where man may turn into a fish, a jaguar or a bird while his spirit soars turning towards his ancestors to be reminded that mother nature is the source of life and we must go back to her and thank her for all her favors.

The Colombian Gold Museum, an example of the best of the latin spirit.